Marine Le Pen, the longtime leader of France’s far-right National Rally (RN) party, is set to stand trial on Monday in a Paris criminal court alongside 26 co-defendants and the RN itself over allegations of misappropriating European Union funds.

This trial marks a significant development nearly a decade after the initial investigations began. If convicted, Le Pen could face a ban from holding public office for up to 10 years, a claim she has denied.

Le Pen has made efforts to improve her party’s image over the years, having lost to Emmanuel Macron in the second round of France’s presidential elections in both 2017 and 2022. She is considered a frontrunner for the upcoming election in 2027.

The accusations involve party officials, former lawmakers, and parliamentary assistants who are alleged to have diverted EU funds intended for parliamentary work to pay staff working for the RN, which was previously known as the National Front. The European Parliament’s lawyer has estimated the total misappropriated amount to be around 3.5 million euros ($3.92 million).

EU lawmakers receive funds to cover their expenses, including those for assistants, but these funds are not meant to be used for party activities. Many smaller European political parties have utilized EU funding to hire talented aides for their lawmakers.

Jordan Bardella, the current head of the RN and a member of the European Parliament, previously worked in such an assistant role but is not involved in the trial.